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The present disclosure relates to an antenna and a communication
apparatus that enables both near field communication using a magnetic
field and near field communication using an electric field. The
communication apparatus includes a first near field communication unit
that performs communication in a non-contact manner using a magnetic
field, a second near field communication unit that performs communication
in a non-contact manner using an electric field, and an antenna shared by
communication of the first near field communication unit and
communication of the second near field communication unit. The present
disclosure is applicable, for example, to near field communication in
which communication using a magnetic field is performed in a non-contact
manner, a communication apparatus that enables near field communication
using an electric field in a non-contact manner, and the like.

1. An antenna shared by near field communication using a magnetic field
and near field communication using an electric field.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the near field communication
using an electric field is a human body communication using a human body
as a communication medium.

3. The antenna according to claim 1, comprising: a coil; a capacitor; and
a switch that turns on/off an electrical connection of each of the coil
and the capacitor.

4. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein the capacitor includes two
flat plate-like electrodes.

5. The antenna according to claim 4, wherein the two electrodes have
slits.

6. A communication apparatus, comprising: a first near field
communication unit that performs communication in a non-contact manner
using a magnetic field; a second near field communication unit that
performs communication in a non-contact manner using an electric field;
and an antenna shared by communication of the first near field
communication unit and communication of the second near field
communication unit.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second
near field communication unit performs communication using a human body
as a communication medium in a non-contact manner using an electric
field.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the antenna
includes a coil, a capacitor, and a switch that turns on/off an
electrical connection of each of the coil and the capacitor.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
a controller that controls the switch.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
capacitor includes two flat plate-like electrodes.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the two
electrodes have slits.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an antenna and a communication
apparatus, and more particularly to an antenna and a communication
apparatus that enable both near field communication using a magnetic
field and near field communication using an electric field.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Near field communication in which wireless communication is
performed at a short distance in a non-contact manner using an IC
(Integrated Circuit) card or the like is utilized for, for example, an
electronic commuter pass, electronic money, or the like. In addition, a
mobile phone having an electronic money function utilizing the near field
communication has been widely used. According to this kind of the near
field communication (hereinafter also referred to as NFC communication),
a quasi-static magnetic field is formed in the vicinity of the antenna,
and communication is performed.

[0003] Further, one of the near field communication using the quasi-static
electric field is human body communication in which transmission is
performed through a human body as a communication medium (hereinafter
also referred to as HBC communication) (for example, see Patent
Literature 1). Hereinafter, the quasi-static magnetic field and the
quasi-static electric field are simply referred to as a magnetic field
and an electric field, respectively.

[0005] To establish the NFC communication, a user has to take out an IC
card, a mobile phone having the NFC communication function, or the like,
and to bring it close to a partner apparatus. In contrast, to establish
the HBC communication, a user does not have to take out a device but only
has to touch the device in his pocket or the like with the hand, since
the HBC communication employs the properties that the electric field
spreads into the human body. Thus, the HBC communication can provide a
more intuitive user interface. It is therefore desirable to provide a
communication apparatus that can utilize both the currently popular NFC
communication and the HBC communication using an electric field.

[0006] The present disclosure is made in view of the above-mentioned
circumstances, and it is an object of the present disclosure to realize
communication of both the near field communication using a magnetic field
and the near field communication using an electric field.

Solution to Problem

[0007] An antenna according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is
shared by near field communication using magnetic field and near field
communication using an electric field.

[0008] In the first aspect of the present disclosure, the antenna is
shared by the near field communication using a magnetic field and the
near field communication using an electric field.

[0009] A communication apparatus according to a second aspect of the
present disclosure includes a first near field communication unit that
performs communication in a non-contact manner using a magnetic field, a
second near field communication unit that performs communication in a
non-contact manner using an electric field, and an antenna shared by
communication of the first near field communication unit and
communication of the second near field communication unit.

[0010] In the second aspect of the present disclosure, the antenna is
shared by communication of the first near field communication unit that
performs communication in a non-contact manner using a magnetic field and
communication of the second near field communication unit that performs
communication in a non-contact manner using an electric field.

[0011] The communication apparatus may be an independent apparatus or may
be an internal block of one apparatus.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0012] According to the first and the second aspects of the present
disclosure, both the near field communication using a magnetic field and
the near field communication using an electric field are possible.

[0013] It should be noted that the effects described here are not
necessarily limitative and may be any of effects described in the present
disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram that illustrates how to control communication
when starting communication with a partner apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 6 is diagrams that each illustrates how to control
communication when starting communication with the partner apparatus.

[0020] FIG. 7 is diagrams that each illustrates how to control
communication when starting communication with the partner apparatus.

[0021] FIG. 8 is diagrams showing first and second configuration examples
of an antenna.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a third configuration example of the antenna.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a fourth configuration example of the antenna.

[0024] FIG. 11 is a diagram that summarizes characteristics of
communication in the state where two switch devices are turned on or off.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present disclosure
(hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described. Note that
description will be performed in the following order. [0026] 1. First
embodiment of communication apparatus (configuration example of
communication apparatus including data converter supporting both NFC
communication and HBC communication) [0027] 2. Second embodiment of
communication apparatus (configuration example of communication apparatus
including data converter supporting only NFC communication) [0028] 3.
Third embodiment of communication apparatus (configuration example of
communication apparatus including data converter supporting only HBC
communication) [0029] 4. Fourth embodiment of communication apparatus
(configuration example of sharing antenna) [0030] 5. Processing flow of
communication start [0031] 6. Configuration example of shared antennae

1. First Embodiment of Communication Apparatus

[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] A communication apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that
enables both near field communication using a magnetic field, which is
generally called as NFC (Near Field Communication), (hereinafter referred
to as NFC communication) and near field communication using an electric
field.

[0034] It should be noted that the communication apparatus 1 described
below performs, as the near field communication using an electric field,
for example, human body communication using a human body of a user as a
communication medium (hereinafter also referred to as HBC (Human Body
Communication) communication). It would be appreciated that the
communication apparatus 1 can perform the near field communication using
an electric field by facing a transmission side electrode and a reception
side electrode each other without via a human body.

[0035] The NFC communication is, for example, short-range wireless
communication that uses a high-frequency magnetic field having a
predetermined frequency (for example, 13.56 MHz) as a medium standardized
as ISO/IEC 14443. It should be noted that the NFC communication is not
limited thereto, and may be other short-range wireless communication
using a magnetic field such as contact type communication that has a
communication distance of up to several mms (international standard:
ISO/IEC 10536) and vicinity type communication that has a communication
distance of about 50 cm to 1 m (international standard: ISO/IEC 15693),
for example.

[0036] The HBC communication is short-range wireless communication. Thus,
an electric field is generated by capacitive coupling of two electrodes,
and transmission is performed using the human body of the user as the
communication medium through a change in the electric field (potential).
The standardized standard of the HBC communication includes IEEE802.15.6
HBC and ISO/IEC 17982.

[0038] The communication apparatus 1 may be a stand-alone apparatus that
performs the short-range wireless communication, or may be a component
that is a communication chip module or a communication IC, which is
embedded in another apparatus such as a smartphone (mobile terminal), a
personal computer, and a server apparatus, as a component.

[0039] The device host 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing
Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an RAM (Random Access Memory), or the
like, and controls the entire communication apparatus 1. The device host
11 generates data-to-be-transmitted that is transmitted to a partner
apparatus being a communication partner, transmits the transmitted data
to the data converter 13, and acquires received data supplied from the
data converter 13. In a case where the communication apparatus 1 is
embedded in another apparatus as a component, the device host 11 controls
data exchange between an upper controller that controls a main body of
the apparatus, in which the communication apparatus 1 is embedded, and
the data converter 13. The data-to-be-transmitted and the
data-to-be-received also include commands and messages.

[0040] The memory 12 stores a program that is used to control the entire
communication apparatus 1, and data necessary for transmission and
reception. The memory 12 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, for
example, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only
Memory), an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) that is backed up by a
battery, or the like.

[0041] The data converter 13 converts data to be transmitted and received
into data of a signal format of the NFC communication or the HBC
communication. Specifically, in a case where the communication apparatus
1 transmits data, the data converter 13 converts the transmitted data
supplied from the device host 11 into data of the signal format of the
NFC communication or the HBC communication, and supplies the converted
data to the NFC digital processor 14 or the HBC digital processor 16. In
addition, in a case where the communication apparatus 1 receives data,
the data converter 13 converts the data of the signal format of the NFC
communication supplied from the NFC digital processor 14 or the data of
the signal format of the HBC communication supplied from the HBC digital
processor 16 into data of a data format that can be received by the
device host 11, and supplies the converted data to the device host 11.

[0042] The signal format of the NFC communication is defined, for example,
by ISO/IEC 21481 (NFC IP-2). The signal format of the HBC communication
can comply with the specification of the human body communication
defined, for example, by IEEE802.15.6 HBC or ISO/IEC 17982.

[0043] The NFC digital processor 14 is a processer that performs digital
processing on a signal to be transmitted and a received signal of the NFC
communication. For example, the NFC digital processor 14 performs
modulation processing of a predetermined modulation method such as ASK
(Amplitude Shift Keying)+BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying), demodulation
processing corresponding thereto, error correction processing, and the
like.

[0044] The NFC analog processor 15 is a processor that performs analog
processing on the signal to be transmitted and the received signal of the
NFC communication. For example, the NFC analog processor 15 performs
detection processing that detects signals, AD conversion processing, or
the like when receiving signals, and performs the ASK demodulation
processing, load modulation processing, or the like when transmitting
signals. A coil (loop coil) 21 and a capacitor 22 are connected to the
NFC analog processor 15 as the antenna, and the coil 21 and the capacitor
22 configure a resonance circuit. The coil 21 and the capacitor 22
resonate at a resonance frequency, for example, of 13.56 MHz in
accordance with the control by the NFC analog processor 15, and generate
a magnetic field around the coil 21. Alternatively, the coil 21 and the
capacitor 22 load-modulate a magnetic field generated by a partner
apparatus (reader/writer) in accordance with the control by the NFC
analog processor 15. As a result, data is transmitted and received using
the magnetic field between the communication apparatus 1 and the partner
apparatus.

[0045] The HBC digital processor 16 is a processor that performs digital
processing on a signal to be transmitted and a received signal of the HBC
communication. For example, the HBC digital processor 16 performs
modulation processing of a predetermined modulation method such as BPSK,
demodulation processing corresponding thereto, error correction
processing, and the like.

[0046] The HBC analog processor 17 is a processor that performs analog
processing on the signal to be transmitted and the received signal of the
HBC communication. For example, the HBC analog processor 17 performs
amplification processing of analog signals, filtering processing, AD
conversion processing, and the like. A capacitor 23 that functions as an
antenna is connected to the HBC analog processor 17. The capacitor 23
generates an electric field around the capacitor 23 in accordance with
the control by the HBC analog processor 17. Alternatively, the capacitor
23 receives a change in the electric field generated by the partner
apparatus via a human body in accordance with the control by the HBC
analog processor 17. As a result, data is transmitted and received using
the electric field between the communication apparatus 1 and the partner
apparatus.

[0047] The communication apparatus 1 having the above-described
configuration can support both kinds of near field communication of the
NFC communication using a magnetic field and the HBC communication using
an electric field, select one of the communication methods as necessary,
and communicate with the partner apparatus.

2. Second Embodiment of Communication Apparatus

[0048] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] In FIG. 2, the configurations corresponding to the configurations
of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs. In the
following, only configurations different from the configurations of the
first embodiment will be described.

[0050] In the second embodiment, the data converter 13 and the HBC digital
processor 16 of the first embodiment are replaced with a data converter
31 and a format converter 32, respectively, and other configurations are
similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0051] The data converter 13 of the first embodiment can convert data of a
format readable and writable by the device host 11 into data of both the
signal formats of the NFC communication and the HBC communication. In
contrast, the data converter 31 of the second embodiment has a function
to convert data into only data of the signal format of the NFC
communication.

[0052] The data converter 31 converts the data-to-be transmitted into data
of the signal format of the NFC communication, adds a flag that indicates
that the data is to be transmitted through the HBC communication or a
flag that indicates that the data is to be transmitted through the NFC
communication to the converted data-to-be-transmitted, and supplies the
converted data-to-be-transmitted to the NFC digital processor 14. In
addition, the data converter 31 converts data of the signal format of the
NFC communication supplied from the NFC digital processor 14 into data of
the format that can be received by the device host 11, and supplies the
converted data to the device host 11.

[0053] In a case where the NFC digital processor 14 acquires the
data-to-be-transmitted of the signal format of the NFC communication
having the flag that indicates that the data is to be transmitted through
the HBC communication from the data converter 31, the NFC digital
processor 14 supplies the data-to-be-transmitted to the format converter
32. In addition, in a case where the NFC digital processor 14 acquires
the data-to-be-transmitted of the signal format of the NFC communication
having the flag that indicates that the data is to be transmitted through
the NFC communication from the data converter 31, the NFC digital
processor 14 performs digital processing such as modulation processing on
the data-to-be-transmitted, and then supplies the data-to-be-transmitted
to the NFC analog processor 15.

[0054] On the other hand, in a case where the received data is supplied to
the NFC digital processor 14 from the format converter 32, the NFC
digital processor 14 supplies the received data to the data converter 31.
In addition, in a case where the received data of the signal format of
the NFC communication is supplied from the NFC analog processor 15, the
NFC digital processor 14 performs the digital processing on the received
data such as demodulation processing and the like, and then supplies the
processed data to the data converter 31.

[0055] The format converter 32 not only performs the processing by the HBC
digital processor 16 of the first embodiment, but also converts the
signal format of the NFC communication into the signal format of the HBC
communication and vice versa. Specifically, the format converter 32
converts the data-to-be-transmitted of the signal format of the NFC
communication supplied from the NFC digital processor 14 into data of the
signal format of the HBC communication, performs the digital processing
such as demodulation processing and the like on the data, and supplies
the data to the HBC analog processor 17. In addition, in a case where the
received data received through the HBC communication is supplied from the
HBC analog processor 17 to the format converter 32, the format converter
32 performs the digital processing such as the demodulation processing
and the like on the received data of the signal format of the HBC
communication, then converts the data into data of the signal format of
the NFC communication, and supplies the data to the NFC digital processor
14.

[0056] Other configurations of the second embodiment are similar to those
of the first embodiment.

[0057] Also, the communication apparatus 1 having the above-described
configuration can support both kinds of near field communication of the
NFC communication using a magnetic field and the HBC communication using
an electric field, select one of the communication methods as necessary,
and communicate with the partner apparatus.

3. Third Embodiment of Communication Apparatus

[0058] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] In FIG. 3, the configurations corresponding to the configurations
of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs. In the
following, only configurations different from the configurations of the
first embodiment will be described.

[0060] In the third embodiment, the data converter 13 and the NFC digital
processor 14 of the first embodiment are replaced with a data converter
41 and a format converter 42, respectively, and other configurations are
similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0061] The data converter 13 of the first embodiment can convert data of a
format readable and writable by the device host 11 into both the signal
formats of the NFC communication and the HBC communication. In contrast,
the data converter 41 of the third embodiment has a function to convert
the data into only the data of the signal format of the HBC
communication.

[0062] The data converter 41 converts the data-to-be-transmitted into data
of the signal format of the HBC communication, adds a flag that indicates
that the data is to be transmitted through the NFC communication or a
flag that indicates that the data is to be transmitted through the HBC
communication, to the converted data-to-be-transmitted, and supplies the
converted data-to-be-transmitted to the HBC digital processor 16. In
addition, the data converter 41 converts the data of the signal format of
the HBC communication supplied from the HBC digital processor 16 into
data of a format that can be received by the device host 11, and supplies
the converted data to the device host 11.

[0063] In a case where the HBC digital processor 16 acquires the
data-to-be-transmitted of the signal format of the HBC communication
having the flag that indicates that the data is to be transmitted through
the NFC communication from the data converter 41, the HBC digital
processor 16 supplies the data-to-be-transmitted to the format converter
42. In a case where the HBC digital processor 16 acquires the
data-to-be-transmitted of the signal format of the HBC communication
having the flag that indicates that the data is to be transmitted through
the HBC communication from the data converter 41, the HBC digital
processor 16 performs digital processing such as modulation processing
and the like on the data-to-be-transmitted, and then supplies the
data-to-be-transmitted to the HBC analog processor 17.

[0064] On the other hand, in a case where the received data is supplied
from the format converter 42, the HBC digital processor 16 supplies the
received data to the data converter 41. In addition, in a case where the
received data of the signal format of the HBC communication is supplied
from the HBC analog processor 17, the HBC digital processor 16 performs
the digital processing on the received data such as demodulation
processing and the like, and then supplies the processed data to the data
converter 41.

[0065] The format converter 42 not only performs the processing by the NFC
digital processor 14 of the first embodiment, but also converts the
signal format of the NFC communication into the signal format of HBC
communication. Specifically, the format converter 42 converts the
data-to-be-transmitted of the signal format of the HBC communication
supplied from the HBC digital processor 16 into data of the signal format
of the NFC communication, performs the digital processing such as
demodulation processing and the like on the data, and supplies the data
to the NFC analog processor 15. In addition, in a case where the received
data received through the NFC communication is supplied from the NFC
analog processor 15 to the format converter 42, the format converter 42
performs the digital processing such as the demodulation processing and
the like on the received data of the signal format of the NFC
communication, then converts the data into data of the signal format of
the HBC communication, and supplies the data to the HBC digital processor
16.

[0066] Other configurations of the third embodiment are similar to those
of the first embodiment.

[0067] Also, the communication apparatus 1 having the above-described
configuration can support both kinds of near field communication of the
NFC communication using a magnetic field and the HBC communication using
an electric field, select one of the communication methods as necessary,
and communicate with the partner apparatus.

4. Fourth Embodiment of Communication Apparatus

[0068] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus
according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0069] In FIG. 4, the configurations corresponding to the configurations
of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs. In the
following, only configurations different from the configurations of the
first embodiment will be described.

[0070] In the fourth embodiment, the device host 11, the memory 12, the
data converter 13, the NFC digital processor 14, the NFC analog processor
15, the HBC digital processor 16, and the HBC analog processor 17 are
configured similarly to the first embodiment.

[0071] In other words, the configuration of the fourth embodiment is
similar to the configuration of the first embodiment except for an
antenna part of the NFC communication and the HBC communication.

[0072] Further, in the fourth embodiment, the coil 21 and the capacitors
22 and 23 of the first embodiment are replaced with a coil 51 and a
capacitor 52. The coil 51 and the capacitor 52 are connected to both the
NFC analog processor 15 and the HBC analog processor 17, and the antenna
is shared by the NFC communication and the HBC communication.

[0073] In a case where data is transmitted or received through the NFC
communication, the NFC analog processor 15 controls the magnetic field
generated around the coil 51.

[0074] In a case where data is transmitted or received through the HBC
communication, the HBC analog processor 17 controls the electric field
generated around the capacitor 52.

[0075] Other configurations of the fourth embodiment are similar to those
of the first embodiment.

[0076] Also, the communication apparatus 1 having the above-described
configuration can support both kinds of near field communication of the
NFC communication using a magnetic field and the HBC communication using
an electric field, select one of the communication methods as necessary,
and communicate with the partner apparatus.

[0077] The fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has the configuration in
which the antenna parts of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 are replaced
with the antenna shared by the NFC communication and the HBC
communication. It is also possible to replace the antenna parts of each
of the second embodiment of FIG. 2 and the third embodiment of FIG. 3
with the antenna shared by the NFC communication and the HBC
communication of the configuration of the fourth embodiment.

5. Processing Flow of Communication Start

[0078] With reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, how to control communication
when starting communication with a partner apparatus will be described.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 5, the communication apparatus 1 alternately
outputs, as polling commands for detecting a communication partner, the
signals of the NFC communication and the signals of the HBC
communication.

[0080] Then, as shown in FIG. 6, in a case where the partner apparatus
replies to the polling command of the NFC communication, the
communication apparatus 1 communicates with the partner apparatus, which
has replied, through the NFC communication.

[0081] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in a case where the partner
apparatus replies to the polling command of the HBC communication, the
communication apparatus 1 communicates with the partner apparatus, which
has replied, through the HBC communication.

[0082] After the communication with the partner apparatus through the NFC
communication or the HBC communication is finished, the communication
apparatus 1 starts the polling processing again, i.e., alternately
outputs, as the polling commands, the signals of the NFC communication
and the signals of the HBC communication.

[0083] As described above, by transmitting the polling commands of the NFC
communication and the polling commands of the HBC communication with the
time division, the communication apparatus 1 can start communication with
a partner apparatus even if the partner apparatus employs any
communication method of the NFC communication or the HBC communication.

6. Configuration Example of Shared Antenna

[0084] FIG. 8 shows configuration examples of an antenna shared by the NFC
communication and the HBC communication.

[0085] A of FIG. 8 shows a first configuration example of an antenna
shared by the NFC communication and the HBC communication.

[0086] In general, the capacitor of the LC resonance circuit is a chip
capacitor or the like. In contrast, in a case where the antenna is shared
by the NFC communication and the HBC communication, as shown in A of FIG.
8, the capacitor 52 includes two flat plate-like pattern electrodes 81A
and 81B arranged in parallel on a surface side and a rear side of a board
having a predetermined thickness, for example.

[0087] The coil 51 is patterned on the board having the predetermined
thickness so as to be arranged around the two pattern electrodes 81A and
81B, for example.

[0088] With the above-mentioned configuration, the capacitor 52 can be
shared by a resonance capacitor for the NFC communication and the antenna
for the HBC communication.

[0089] This allows the antenna for the NFC communication and the antenna
for the HBC communication to be integrated. In a case where a user
communicates through either communication method, the user has only to
bring a partner apparatus or a part of a human body, e.g., hand, at the
same position closer to the antenna.

[0090] B of FIG. 8 shows a second configuration example of an antenna
shared by the NFC communication and the HBC communication.

[0091] The thickness of the board, on which the two pattern electrodes 81A
and 81B of the capacitor 52 are arranged, can be determined as
appropriate corresponding to a dielectric constant of the board. However,
a sufficient capacity may not be provided only by the capacitor 52 in a
case where a board having a high dielectric constant is unable to be used
or where the pattern electrodes 81A and 81B having sufficiently wide
areas are not provided.

[0092] In such cases, the capacitor 82 such as a chip capacitor can be
provided in parallel with the capacitor 52 as shown B of FIG. 8.

[0093] FIG. 9 shows a third configuration example of the antenna shared by
the NFC communication and the HBC communication.

[0094] The third configuration example is different from the first and the
second configuration examples in that the capacitor 52 is constituted of
pattern electrodes 91A and 91B, and a plurality of (four in FIG. 9) slits
92 are formed in the pattern electrodes 91A and 91B, respectively.

[0095] In a case where the pattern electrodes have a simple flat plate
shape similar to the pattern electrodes 81A and 81B shown in FIG. 8, in
the communication using a magnetic field, an eddy current is generated, a
Q value of the LC resonance circuit is lowered, and communication
performance is degraded.

[0096] In view of the above, as shown in FIG. 9, one or more slits 92 are
formed in the respective pattern electrodes 91A and 91B. Therefore, it is
possible to significantly inhibit the generation of the eddy current.

[0097] It should be noted that the shapes of the slits for inhibiting the
generation of the eddy current are not limited to the shapes of the slits
92 shown in FIG. 9. Without providing the slits, the pattern electrodes
may be separated into pieces, and may be connected in parallel.

[0098] In addition, the shapes of the slits 92 formed in the two pattern
electrodes 91A and 91B may be the same or different.

[0099] FIG. 10 shows a fourth configuration example of the antenna shared
by the NFC communication and the HBC communication.

[0100] In the fourth configuration example of the antenna shown in FIG.
10, switch devices 101 and 102 (SW 101 and SW 102) are provided in
addition to the coil 51 and the capacitor 52. The switch device 101 turns
on/off an electrical connection of the coil 51, and the switch device 102
turns on/off an electrical connection of the capacitor 52. The capacitor
52 may employ any of the configurations shown in FIG. 8 where no slit 92
is formed and the configuration shown in FIG. 9 where one or more slits
92 are formed. In addition, the shapes of the slits 92 may be different
from those shown in FIG. 9.

[0101] In a case where the resonance circuit including the coil 51 and the
capacitor 52 resonates, a communication distance is long, a band is
narrow, and a transmission speed of the data is slow. In a case where the
resonance circuit including the coil 51 and the capacitor 52 does not
need to resonate, the data can be transmitted and received at higher
speed.

[0102] Thus, by providing the switch devices 101 and 102, it is possible
to select and execute the communication method of performing
communication, in which the resonance circuit resonates at the resonance
frequency in conformity with a predetermined standard, for example, of
13.56 MHz, or the communication method of transmitting and receiving the
data in a non-resonant manner at high speed, as necessary.

[0103] FIG. 11 is a diagram that summarizes characteristics of the
communication in the state where the respective switch devices 101 and
102 are turned on or off.

[0104] In a case where both the switch devices 101 and 102 are turned on,
the resonance circuit including the coil 51 and the capacitor 52
resonates at a predetermined frequency. The communication apparatus 1 can
communicate through both the NFC communication using a magnetic field and
the HBC communication using an electric field. In this case, the
communication distance is longer than the communication distance of other
communication described later, the communication band is narrow, and the
transmission speed is slow. However, it is possible to perform the near
field communication in conformity with a predetermined standard such as
ISO/IEC 14443. In conformity with the standard of ISO/IEC 14443, the
transmission rate is, for example, 106 kbps, 212 kbps, or 424 kbps.

[0105] In contrast, in a case where the switch device 101 is turned off
and the switch device 102 is turned on, only the capacitor 52 is
electrically connected, and the antenna therefore does not resonate. The
communication apparatus 1 can perform communication only through the HBC
communication using an electric field. In this case, the communication
distance is shorter than that of the resonance communication described
above, the communication band is wide, and the transmission speed is
fast. In conformity with the standard of ISO/IEC 17982, it is possible to
perform communication at high speed of the transmission rate up to 40.68
Mbps.

[0106] In addition, in a case where the switch device 101 is turned on and
the switch device 102 is turned off, only the coil 51 is electrically
connected, and the antenna therefore does not resonate. The communication
apparatus 1 can perform communication through only the NFC communication
using a magnetic field. However, the NFC communication is unique NFC
communication not in conformity with a predetermined standard. The
communication distance is shorter than that of the resonance
communication described above, the communication band is wide, and the
transmission speed is fast.

[0107] In a case where both the switch devices 101 and 102 are turned off,
the communication through any of the NFC communication using a magnetic
field and the HBC communication using an electric field is impossible.

[0108] As described above, according to the fourth configuration example
of the antenna, by controlling turning on/off the switch devices 101 and
102, it is possible to select the NFC communication in conformity with a
predetermined standard, the high speed NFC communication not in
conformity with the standard, or the high speed HBC communication, and to
perform the selected communication. For example, the device host 11
performs the on/off control of the switch devices 101 and 102.

[0109] As described above, the communication apparatus 1 illustrated in
the respective embodiments can support both kinds of near field
communication of the NFC communication using a magnetic field and the HBC
communication using an electric field, select one of the communication
methods as necessary, and perform communication with the partner
apparatus.

[0110] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the
above-described embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0111] For example, all or a part of the above-described plurality of
embodiments may be combined and adopted.

[0112] For example, the present disclosure may take a configuration of
cloud computing that shares one function by a plurality of devices via a
network and performs co-processing.

[0113] In addition, the respective steps described in the flowcharts
described above may be executed by one apparatus, or may also be executed
by sharing the steps with a plurality of apparatuses.

[0114] Further, in a case where one step includes a plurality of
processes, the plurality of processes included in one step may be
executed by one apparatus, or may also be executed by sharing the steps
with a plurality of apparatuses.

[0115] It should be noted that the effects described in the present
specification are merely illustrative and are not limitative, and may
have effects other than the effects described in the present
specification.

[0116] Further, the present disclosure may also have the following
configurations. [0117] (1) An antenna shared by near field communication
using a magnetic field and near field communication using an electric
field. [0118] (2) The antenna according to (1), in which

[0119] the near field communication using an electric field is a human
body communication using a human body as a communication medium. [0120]
(3) The antenna according to (1) or (2), including:

[0121] a coil;

[0122] a capacitor; and

[0123] a switch that turns on/off an electrical connection of each of the
coil and the capacitor. [0124] (4) The antenna according to (3), in which

[0125] the capacitor includes two flat plate-like electrodes. [0126] (5)
The antenna according to (4), in which

[0127] the two electrodes have slits. [0128] (6) A communication
apparatus, including:

[0129] a first near field communication unit that performs communication
in a non-contact manner using a magnetic field;

[0130] a second near field communication unit that performs communication
in a non-contact manner using an electric field; and

[0131] an antenna shared by communication of the first near field
communication unit and communication of the second near field
communication unit. [0132] (7) The communication apparatus according to
(6), in which

[0133] the second near field communication unit performs communication
using a human body as a communication medium in a non-contact manner
using an electric field. [0134] (8) The communication apparatus according
to (6) or (7), in which

[0135] the antenna includes

[0136] a coil,

[0137] a capacitor, and

[0138] a switch that turns on/off an electrical connection of each of the
coil and the capacitor. [0139] (9) The communication apparatus according
to (8), further including:

[0140] a controller that controls the switch. [0141] (10) The
communication apparatus according to (8) or (9), in which

[0142] the capacitor includes two flat plate-like electrodes. [0143] (11)
The communication apparatus according to (10), in which